Miller new v-ball coach

Fred Miller, fresh from 471 wins over 27 years at Ohios Central Christian High School, wants to make it to the North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association in April. He began this semester as head coach for EMU's men's volleyball team.

To get there, Miller says his Royals will have to finish in the top three of the western division, performing a repeat of their solid 13-9 record and a Division III Final Four accomplishment for the first time last year.

With only four returning veterans and one returning starter the new coach has his work cut out for him. "My guys come day in and day out and go hard," he said. "I like the chemistry and unity we have shown in the early stages of pre-season and I hope to see that continue."

Ryan Detweiler, returning starter, says, "We have a new coach and a totally different squad. While we lost a lot of talent, we are really focused on playing together as a team and that makes things encouraging."

The team's goals, according to Miller, are to be focused individually, collectively, spiritually and mentally; and to be disciplined, with each player understanding his role and having fun with the sport.

Miller, named Coach of the Year in his district twelve different times, has a 77 percent winning percentage in his career. His teams took 17 consecutive OHSAA section titles, 11 district titles and were runners-up five times, won a regional championship, and had two Final Four appearances.

Seventeen of Miller's players have gone on to play intercollegiate volleyball, including one at the Division I level at Ohio State University and six at EMU. Central Christian graduates who have played at EMU include Erica Mast, Jen Schlabach, Martha Kratzer, Bonnie Berry, Stephanie Miller, and current sophomore Lisa Berry.

Prior to arriving at Central Christian, Miller was pastor at Salem Mennonite Church in Elida, Ohio, from 1973 to 1978. He also served as Campus Minister and Bible Instructor at Bluffton (Ohio) College (now University), 1973 to 1976.

The men's volleyball team is in action tonight at 6:00 when they square off against Lees-McRae at home, and then again on Friday at 6:30 against Villa Julie.